The Columbus Crew announced the winners of its team awards Monday night at its annual Crew Team Awards Ceremony, presented by adidas, held at the Lifestyle Communities Pavilion. For the second consecutive year, the ceremony was followed by a Casino Night, the proceeds of which benefited the Crew’s charitable arm, the Crew Soccer Foundation.

The winners were as follows: Crew Most Valuable Player, Guillermo Barros Schelotto; Defender of the Year, Chad Marshall; Budweiser Golden Boot, Alejandro Moreno; Glidden Man of the Year, Frankie Hejduk; Coaches Award, Brian Carroll & Alejandro Moreno; Newcomer of the Year, Gino Padula; Sierra Mist Goal of the Year, Robbie Rogers; OhioHealth Comeback Player of the Year, Chad Marshall; U.S. Soccer Foundation Humanitarian of the Year, Eddie Gaven; Crew Soccer Foundation Crew Chiefs Hardest Working Man of the Year, Brian Carroll; Crew Fan’s Choice, Guillermo Barros Schelotto; and Crew Fans of the Year, Crew Union, Hudson Street Hooligans & La Turbina Amarilla of the Nordecke. Below is a summary of each winner.

Guillermo Barros Schelotto – Crew Most Valuable Player

This year, the Crew MVP honor once again went to Guillermo Barros Schelotto, who collected seven goals and 19 assists in 27 games, finishing first in the league in assists by a wide margin. Schelotto also set a new Crew record for most assists in a season, eclipsing John Wilmar Perez’s 15 in 2001, and finished the season tied for second in MLS history for most assists in a single season. Five of his assists led to game-winners and his extraordinary performances were recognized with four MLS Player of the Week selections, MLS Player of the Month honors for August and inclusion on the MLS inactive All-Star roster.

Chad Marshall – Crew Defender of the Year

A big, athletic defender, Chad Marshall has consistently frustrated the efforts of the opposition’s attack in 2008 – thanks to his aerial dominance and well-timed tackles – while only earning two yellow card cautions all season. This season has also seen Marshall utilize his size and leaping ability to get on the end of set pieces, as he has registered a career-high four goals (three of which were game-winners) – good for second in the league among defenders – giving the Crew another dangerous offensive weapon.

Alejandro Moreno – Crew Budweiser Golden Boot

The Budweiser Golden Boot Award is presented to the player who, over the course of the regular season, scored the most goals for his team. The Crew’s leading scorer for 2008 is forward Alejandro Moreno, who found the back of the net nine times – a career high – while also adding four assists, in 27 games. Moreno has also worked his way back into the Venezuelan National Team picture this season and has scored twice for his country, as well, including the game-winner against Ecuador on Oct. 15 in FIFA World Cup Qualifying action.

Frankie Hejduk – Glidden Man of the Year

The Glidden Man of the Year award is presented annually to the player who embodies an exceptional sense of leadership, civic pride, family values and community service. Frankie Hejduk continued to lead the Crew both on and off the field in 2008. The Crew captain once again put in a stellar campaign on the pitch this season, earning his sixth MLS All-Star selection, while also continuing to be a key call-up for the U.S. Men’s National Team. He tirelessly patrols the right side of the Crew defense, while also providing a dangerous element on the offensive end with his timely overlapping runs. Hejduk continues to be a fan favorite and has steadfastly recognized and acknowledged impact and importance of the newly-formed Nordecke supporters’ section in Crew Stadium’s northeast corner.

Brian Carroll & Alejandro Moreno – Crew Coaches Award

Selected by the Crew coaching staff, the Coaches Award is presented to the player or players they considered to be the most coachable and to possess all of the characteristics of a true team player, including attitude and work ethic. Brian Carroll has proven to be one of the top offseason acquisitions in the league in 2008. One of the best holding midfielders in MLS, Carroll has produced at a consistent level all season while playing in all but eight minutes of the Crew’s MLS matches. Carroll contributed a goal and two assists, along with his diligent work rate, two-way play in the midfield and a winning mentality. Not only was Moreno the Crew’s goal-scoring leader, notching a career-high nine, his tireless work ethic and willingness to sacrifice his body allowed the Crew to consistently earn scoring opportunities in the opponent’s defensive third, while his professionalism is an example to the team.

Gino Padula – Newcomer of the Year

A mature presence at left back, whose calm confidence with the ball has added yet another dimension to the Crew attack, veteran Argentine defender Gino Padula signed with the Crew on March 24 after previous successful stints in Argentina, Spain and England. Padula made his Crew debut in a win at home on April 12 vs. Chivas USA and started two more games, both Crew wins, for the Black & Gold before going down with hamstring and knee injuries that sidelined him for several months. Padula returned to the starting lineup on Aug. 16 and the Crew compiled an impressive 11-1-2 record when he was in the lineup this season.

Robbie Rogers – Crew Sierra Mist Goal of the Year

On ESPN2 Primetime Thursday on Sept. 18, Robbie Rogers broke a 1-1 tie and put the Crew ahead for good with a dazzling effort from distance just seconds after the halftime restart. Rogers took a short scoop pass from Gino Padula near the left sideline and went to work from there. Rogers raced past two defenders, juked a third and, with plenty of space, struck a game-winning 30-yard blast that left goalkeeper Jon Conway with no chance.

Chad Marshall – Crew OhioHealth Comeback Player of the Year

Defender Chad Marshall returned in stunning fashion this season, after a series of concussions forced him to miss 17 games in 2007 and left his career in jeopardy. On the eve of the 2007 season, Marshall suffered a concussion in a preseason match, which caused him to miss significant time on the field, including the first eight games of the 2007 MLS campaign. Marshall returned from his prolonged absence for the Crew’s June 3 match at Chicago, helping to spark the club’s best run of play in 2007. Over the next 11 games, all of which Marshall started, the Crew compiled a record of 5-3-3 that included a six-game unbeaten streak and five of the club’s eight shutouts on the season. Unfortunately for Marshall and the Crew, his return would be short-lived, as he suffered another concussion in mid-August and it was determined that it was best for his long-term health and safety to sit out the remainder of the season. He was placed on season-ending injured reserve on Aug. 31. The 2008 season has been a different story and a new beginning for Marshall. Refocused and renewed by his forced time away from the game, he returned with vigor to his regular spot on the backline and was the only member of a stingy Crew defense to start in 29 of the club’s 30 games this season, while also registering a career-high four goals.

Eddie Gaven – U.S. Soccer Foundation Humanitarian of the Year

Eddie has been a visible community ambassador for the Crew and Major League Soccer this year and throughout his career.  The Hamilton, N.J., native is now in his sixth MLS season, having entered the league with the MetroStars in 2003 at the tender age of 16. Along with his on-field credentials, which include 28 career goals, 25 career assists and multiple caps with the U.S. National Team, Eddie brings an impressive off-the-field passion for community service to the Columbus area. He has participated in the Crew’s School Assembly program, speaking to hundreds of elementary-age children about the importance of making healthy choices, staying in school and displaying good character. He has also visited with pediatric hospital patients on numerous occasions, bringing a smile to the faces of youngsters facing serious medical conditions. In addition, Eddie has volunteered to assist with Habitat for Humanity building projects in Columbus for the past two seasons.  As an instrumental part of the Crew’s clean-up efforts with Keep Columbus Beautiful and the United Way, Eddie and several teammates volunteered to pick up litter in and around Driving Park Recreation Center on Community Care Day. Eddie not only gives of his time, he has also been a generous supporter of worthy causes in the area.  He was the first to donate to the St. Stephen’s House Community Food and Toy Drive, an effort to help needy community residents during the holiday season. In addition, Eddie donated one of his U.S. National Team jerseys to the Crew Soccer Foundation’s sports memorabilia fundraising auction to assist in funding programming for youth in Central Ohio.

Brian Carroll – CSF Crew Chiefs Hardest Working Man of the Year

In his first season in the Black & Gold, Brian Carroll has made a noticeable impact for the Crew, both on and off the field. Carroll’s constant work rate in the Crew midfield has helped the Crew’s counterattack to become one of the most feared in the league. In addition to his incredible engine, his experience and quiet leadership in the locker room have also been important factors in the Crew’s impressive turnaround this season. He’s been a stalwart in Coach Sigi Schmid’s lineup since arriving in Columbus and played all but eight minutes in every game for the Crew in the 2008 MLS regular season.

Guillermo Barros Schelotto – Crew Fans’ Choice

For the second straight year, team MVP Guillermo Barros Schelotto was also the fans’ selection in on-line balloting for the Fans’ Choice award.

Crew Union, Hudson Street Hooligans & La Turbina Amarilla of the Nordecke – Jim Nelson Fan of the Year Award

Renamed this year to honor the memory of longtime Crew fan Jim Nelson, who passed away just prior to the 2008 season, the Crew Fan of the Year award has, in years past, been presented to one particularly dedicated supporter. This season, however, the award belongs to not just one devoted person, but to hundreds of devoted people, the Crew’s most rabid supporters – Crew Union, Hudson Street Hooligans and La Turbina Amarilla of Crew Stadium’s Nordecke. Following the construction of the permanent stage in Crew Stadium’s north end, the Crew’s three primary supporter groups banded together in the northeast corner. The energy and excitement that has emanated from the new location has become one of the stories of this season – both locally and league-wide. Their drumbeats, chants and unbridled enthusiasm have become a hallmark of Crew Stadium in 2008, and Crew players and coaches have repeatedly cited the Nordecke as a significant reason for the team’s unmatched success at home this season.

Founded by American sports pioneer Lamar Hunt, the Columbus Crew is Ohio's Major League Soccer club, anchoring a diverse sports and entertainment enterprise. One of the league's Charter Members, it has won the 2002 U.S. Open Cup championship and MLS Supporters’ Shield titles in 2004 and 2008. It is currently in its 13th season overall and 10th in first-of-its-kind Columbus Crew Stadium.

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